ATHLETICS IN THE YEAR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21977, 29 December 1936, Page 13

ATHLETICS IN THE YEAR

_._ « REVIVAL OF INTEREST ANTICIPATED RUNNERS SETTLING DOWN TO RACING [By RELAY.] Officials who have been seriously concerned about the declining interest among athletes in their sport may be pleasantly surprised when the second half of the season begins. It is now,the common experience that the athletic season begins unpromisingly 2nd does not really get into full swing until after the Christmas and New Year holiday period. This applies particularly this season because of the later date chosen for the New Zealand championships and the policy of the athletes in refraining from early racing because on this account. °The championships will be held in March, and the Canterbury championships will probably be correspondingly late. It has been noticeable that a number of the leading athletes have been slow to get down to their racing. This half-hearted beginning is due to a fear of reaching form too early and coins stale. Actually if an athlete takes care Of himself and watches his form doselT enough there should be no fear of this. The fault in the earlyseason doldrums which the sport consistently suffers lies with the competiThe suggestion has arisen that the inter-club racing should begin later, or that there should be fewer meetings before Christmas. This may be worth > considering next year. Club secretaries were too optimistic in drawing up this season's programme, and deserved some of the disappointments they had. Americans' Visit Some important events will be seen in the second half of the season, including the appearance of the American athletes, Fey Draper and George Mackey, and l*e New Zealand university championships, lovelock's visit will have convinced officials that the Americans can have little drawing power for crowds, and unless the tour is carefully handled there is every possibility of a loss. Their visit may be of considerable interest and value to the athletes, but hardly to the public, unless they record some startling times in other centres. Draper was a member of .the American sprint relay team which established a world record at the Berlin Olympic Games. He was with Jesse Owens. Ralph Metcalfe, and Frank Wykoff. ile has consistently recorded 9 3-Ssec for the 100 yards, but he can hardly be expected to approach that figure on the New Zealand tracks. He raced this year over a measured 220 yards in 20 9-10 sec, time which has been improved upon only by Owens and Harvey Wallenden, of America. New Zealand will have little opposition to offer Draper. Sprinting in the Dominion is not at a high standard at the moment, and it is doubtful whether there are more than two or three runners capable of returning even figures for the 100 yards. The New Zealand champion is B. R. Tapley, of Dunedin, who will hardly be capable of footing it with Draper. Much of the entertainment for spectators will depend on sensible handicapping. The field-event representative, George Mackey, is not well known in< New Zealand. He is regarded as America's best discus thrower, and competes in the colours of the Olympic Club; San Francisco. He represented America at the Olympic Games. That fact is sufficient to establish him in international company. He may be able to do a good deal to help field athletes in the Dominion. National Titles The New Zealand championships at Auckland in March should be a fine meeting. Competition will be keen, though it is yet very doubtful how big apart Canterbury can expect to flay, The Auckland centre has begun its season remarkably well. It is reported to have 1000 competitors in its inter-club competition. Wellington, with the new ground at Haitaitai, began the season with enthusiasm. It appears likely that Auckland, on its home ground, will make a strong bid to wrest the interprovincial honours from Otago and Canterbury. Soon alter the national championships will come the university tournament meeting in Christchurch, on Saturday, March 27, and Easter Monday, March 29. This is the meeting on which most university athletes concentrate, and it promises to produce some fine racing. The early Easter will bring the season to an abrupt close, and on the following Saturday cross-country runners will get down to business. The crosscountry season will be an important one, as it is the jubilee year of the Sport in Canterbury, and the Canterbury eeptre has been allotted the national championships.